The BCB directly targets structural weaknesses in Bangladesh’s talent pipeline by reorganizing the grassroots cricket structure in Bangladesh, launching BCB regional cricket hubs, and introducing a Bangladesh National Cricket Academy U-23 programme. In simple terms, the board is building a clearer player development pathway that links district cricket, age-group competitions, and elite preparation under one coordinated framework. With eight hubs and 137 wickets planned nationwide, the move focuses on accessibility, better coaching standards, and long-term planning rather than short-term fixes.
BCB Cricket Pathway Review includes eight hubs expanded nationwide
Infrastructure is the main area that the Bangladesh Cricket Development Plan can build on immediately. Eight Regional Hubs are being created in Khulna, Barishal, Fatullah, Cox’s Bazar, Bogura, Rajshahi, BKSP, and Purbachal. 137 Wickets will be constructed during Phase I for Practice, Match, and Outer Grounds.
This has a tactical impact. The more wickets you take means that you can have more simultaneous training blocks, district leagues, and organized youth league games you can have at the same time without having to deal with the congestion of playing in and around Dhaka. Because of the historical lack of available facilities, there has been limited exposure to players. By spreading out where matches are played, the BCB will increase the number of games being played as well as create an environment for scouts to find raw talent sooner than they would be able to do otherwise.
Structured pathway for U-23 prospects
A large gap in Bangladesh’s structure is the transition from youth-level cricket to the professional levels of cricket. This new proposal for the Bangladesh National Cricket Academy U-23 will help to close this gap.
The academy will allow for coaches to monitor the players throughout their time at the academy (as opposed to under-19), while providing the coaching, training, and other performance tools necessary to improve each player’s game. This will create a clear pathway for players through the system (district → age group → U-23 → domestic → national team). The academy will provide a structured way for late developers to continue their development, as is the case in many successful international cricket systems.
Coaching standards and incentives
The BCB Player Development Pathway is also not just about the players. To make better use of the allocated funds, officials would like to discuss ways to revise the salaries for divisional/district coaches, introduce incentives, and establish a curriculum review committee.
Better compensation and education will allow for more consistency in tactics across regions because all coaches will be using the same approach to develop their players (fitness, skill development, and knowledge of the game); as a result the player will be more system ready when he moves to a different team/league, thus reducing the amount of developmental time and the risk of selecting him..
Data and governance reforms
An area often neglected for its importance is the administrative component. This includes age-verification review and a detailed player database of all players participating domestically.
These procedures will also add a layer of transparency with a long-term monitoring system. Reliable data on the ages of the participants will help to alleviate concerns of the eligibility of participants, while the use of central databases will allow selectors to assess long term performance trends of selected athletes rather than selecting solely based upon an athlete’s performance at a single tournament. Transitioning selectors from making selections based on anecdotal information to selections based on evidence will assist in increasing the credibility and competitive nature of the selectors’ selection process.
Overall, the BCB Cricket Pathway Review is a long-term strategic transformation that can improve the breadth of participation in all levels of cricket and provide opportunities for coaches to be better developed so they can support the development of players from grassroots to the elite level of cricket. The creation of the eight (BCB Hubs), 137 (BCB Wickets), and the (U-23 Academy) are examples of the BCB’s long-term vision for developing cricket within Bangladesh rather than being a short-term public relations tool. With successful implementation and an expansion of the district leagues as outlined by the BCB, Bangladesh will have the potential to develop a deeper, more consistent talent base over the next three years.
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